By Marissa Rotolo
Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko
This summer I worked in an elementary school as a teacher’s aide. One of the most fun parts of my job was putting together appropriate work outfits that also met my style. A lot of the pieces were items I already owned, and I wanted to share some of those outfits. Fashion is so expressive, and being able to maintain that while still upholding professional standards was exciting.
The dress I am wearing is from Abercrombie & Fitch. I paired it with a cropped cardigan from Urban Outfitters. Not pictured was a pair of light brown leather slides from Steve Madden. This outfit was a fun way to incorporate summer colors and fabrics together.
This outfit pulls the same white cardigan from Urban Outfitters. I paired it with a midi dress from Princess Polly and Reebok classic sneakers. I love wearing white sneakers with midi dresses/skirts because it dresses down the outfit while also adding an element of street style. I was also on my feet a lot so it made my outfit comfortable!
This outfit was definitely one of my favorites. I remember when I wore this outfit one of my kindergarteners told me I looked like Princess Jasmine. In this outfit, I am wearing a monochrome crochet sweater and top combination. I found this piece at Nordstrom Rack and it’s easily one of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe, surprisingly. The skirt is from Nasty Gal and my shoes are the same Reebok classics. This was a fun way to stick to a color palette and switch up my classic midi and sweater combination.
This outfit was fun because I was able to play around with different combinations. This midi skirt I found at TJ Maxx is wild! It was only $14. If you have a TJ Maxx near you I definitely recommend you go. This button-up is from Nordstrom Rack. The black tank top is Free People. I had fun pairing this with a canvas tote- one of my favorite accessories. Canvas totes add a level of style to every fit. I think sometimes canvas totes can add cohesion to an average look and pull it all together.
So many of these outfits were compiled for under $40 and found at outlet stores. Staying in style is exciting, and doing it at affordable prices is also fun. These pieces were versatile and comfortable.